Spreader and form holder for concrete walls



April 9, 1929. o. J. REES SPREADER AND FORM HOLDER FOR CONCRETE WALLS Filed Nov. 14, 1927 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES OTTO I. REFS, OF ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA.

SPREADER AND FORM HOLDER FOB CONCRETE WALLS.

I Applicationfiled November 14, 1 927. Serial 170. 238,129.

This invention relates to forms for pouring concrete, and more especially to a tie rod and spacer for rigidly positioning the op site sides of such a mold. The tie rod of t is 5 invention is an improvement in the "tie rod disclosed in my co-pending application, Se-

rial No. 192,252, filed May 18, 1927.

' An object of this invention is to provide a spreader for concrete forms, comprising a 'strip of material adapted to extend transversely of the mold and extend through the sides thereof between the lateral boards of the mold structure, and having an integral flange extending therefrom so positioned as to engage the inner surface of the boards.

Another object is the provision of a tie rod and spacer of the above nature, the ends of which may be broken off after the mold has been removed from the hardened concrete,

leaving the body of the rod within the concrete.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which will securely hold the sides of 'the mold against displacement by the liquid concrete, and yet which will permit ready removal of the mold after the concrete has hardened.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a mold for a concrete wall, showing-a pair of the spacers of my invention in position.

Fig. 2 is a' vertical sectional view taken transversely throu h a form for a concrete wall after the concrete has been poured, and showing the form mold of my invention in position.

Fi g. 3 is a vertical sectional View of the wall of Figure 2 after the mold has been removed and the ends of the tie rod broken off.

Fig. at is a perspective view of one of my tie rods.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the wedges adapted to be used with my tie rod.

The tie rod of my invention is adapted for use with molds used in pouring concrete, and which are made up of a plurality of form boards 1 placed edge to edge, preferably one set of such boards being suitably positioned determine each side of the wall or other concrete structure to be poured, The tie rod comprises a strip 2 of suitable material, and 1s preferably an elongated strip of relatively thin strap iron. Adjacent each end of the strip 2 is a slot.3 adapted to receive a wedge 4. When in position in the mold, the strip 2 extends transversely thereof, with one end and slot 3 extending between two of the boards 1 1n each side of the-mold, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Thus when the wedge 4 is drivenhome, it tends to urge the opposite sides of the mold towards each other. To limit this inward movement of the form boards 1, a pair of opposed flanges 6 are provided' on each end of the strip 2, the space hetween the flanges 6 and slot 3 being slightly less-than the thickness of the form boards 1, with the result that when the wedge 4 is driven home, the boards 1 will be tightly compressed between it and the flanges 6.

The strip 2 is of such dimensions that the space between the outer faces of the flanges 6 on each end of the strip 2, is the same as the desired thickness of the wall. If so desired, the strip 2 may be formed with another set of slots 3 and associated flanges 6, so that the same type of strip may be used in the pouring of walls of different thicknesses, obviating the necessity of having an assortment of strips 2 on each job.

The operation of my device is as follows The strips 2 are positioned with one end extending between two of the form boards 1 on each side of the mold, with the flanges 6 on the inside of the boards. Then the wedges 4 are inserted into the slots 3 and driven home, forcing the boards 1 tightly against the flanges 6. When the entire mold has been thus completed, the concrete 7 may be poured. When suflicient time has elapsed for the concrete to set, the form boards 1 may readily be removed after the wedges 4 have been unseated. Then the ends of the strip 2 may be broken off flush with the wall, leaving the body of the strip 2 within the concrete, as shown in Figure 3.

It will be understood that various changes in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim 1. A tie and spreader for forms, comprising an elongated strip of material, a plurality of sets of flanges adjacent each end of the strip, each of said'sets including a flange projecting from'each side of the strip and each of said flanges being formed by shearing the strip along a line extending inwards from one edge of the strip a distance less'than half the Width of the strip, and thence along another line toward the proximal end of the strip, and then bending the included portion of the stri into angular relationship with the body or the strip, thereibeing a slot associated with each set of flanges and disposed between the associated set and the proximal end of the strip, the inner end of the slots being spaced from their respective flanges a dis tance less than the thickness of the material composing said form and wedges receivable in said slots.

2. A tie and spreader for forms, comprising an elongated strip of material, a plurality of sets of flanges adjacent each end of the strip, each of said sets including a flange projecting from each side of the strip, there being a slot associated with each 'set of flanges and disposed between the associated set and the proximal end of the strip, the inner end of the slots being spaced from their respective flanges a distance less than the thickness of the material composing said form and Wedges receivable in said slots.

- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

OTTO J. REES. 

